I don't know how much you know about the history of the Macabbees in the time frame between the Old and New Testaments. But you probably do know that when Jews celebrate Hanukkah today it is a memorial of the victory of the Jewish patriots over the forces of the Syrian Greeks 165 years before Jesus.

But, the timing of this celebration is curious. When Judas Maccabeas and his followers approached Jerusalem for the last great battle of the rebellion it was time for the fall festival called Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles.) The Jewish zealots believed that God would understand if they didn't relent in their efforts and so they delayed their ritual observance until the victory was won. Then they lit the seven branch candlestick and celebrated Sukkot a couple of months late.

For more information on this (with special insights for Christians) go to our series:

#851 Hanukkah #927 Sukkot #844 Beginning Again

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I'm Don Pate and I really, really mean that!